Another LulzSec member arrested in connection with Sony Pictures hack

Raynaldo Rivera, aka "neuron," surrendered to the FBI after being indicted.

An Arizona man accused of being a member of LulzSec has been arrested by the FBI in connection with the hacking of a Sony website in June 2011. Raynaldo Rivera, a 20-year old resident of Tempe, surrendered to the FBI in Phoenix yesterday after the unsealing of a grand jury indictment.

Rivera, known by the IRC screen names wildicv, neuron, and royal, is accused of being an accomplice to Cody Kretsinger (aka “Recursion”), the LulzSec hacker who pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and “unauthorized impairment of a protected computer” in April. Rivera faces the same charges for using a SQL injection attack against a Sony Pictures website. If found guilty, Rivera could serve up to 15 years in federal prison.

Lulzsec learned a harsh lesson. Being high profile while committing a crime makes you an easier target.

I am reminded of what Stephen Colbert said about Aaron Barr. Aaron Barr poked a hornets nest when he tried to infiltrate Anonymous.

Lulzsec did the same thing, only this time the hornets nest was the International Law Enforcement Community. They drew significant attention to themselves painting a giant bullseye on their backs in the process.

Lulzsec learned a harsh lesson. Being high profile while committing a crime makes you an easier target.

I am reminded of what Stephen Colbert said about Aaron Barr. Aaron Barr poked a hornets nest when he tried to infiltrate Anonymous.

Lulzsec did the same thing, only this time the hornets nest was the International Law Enforcement Community. They drew significant attention to themselves painting a giant bullseye on their backs in the process.

^This. The strength of Anonymous is that you are..... anonymous. Give yourself a name and that strength works against you, you become the symbolic target for everything Anonymous does.

Lulzsec learned a harsh lesson. Being high profile while committing a crime makes you an easier target.

I am reminded of what Stephen Colbert said about Aaron Barr. Aaron Barr poked a hornets nest when he tried to infiltrate Anonymous.

Lulzsec did the same thing, only this time the hornets nest was the International Law Enforcement Community. They drew significant attention to themselves painting a giant bullseye on their backs in the process.

lulzsec also intentionally attacked law enforcement and released personal information about police officers. im not sure what they expected.

lulzsec also intentionally attacked law enforcement and released personal information about police officers. im not sure what they expected.

(Delicious) cake?

Well if by delicious cake you mean pound cake then yes. And by Pound I mean "pounding" and by cake I mean "in Jail".Even though I am not a big fan of Sony Corp, their cronies and the way they handled the GeoHotz situation. Attacking them like this only harmed these individuals themselves. My approach/response to Sony's was simpler, I refuse to buy anything from Sony. They can go F*ck themselves.

I still would love to see someone LEAK the shady accounting and other behind the scene stuff that makes up the RIAA/MPAA Studios.Many of us would love to see just what Artists are Paid ?How much are they really paying out to Washington ?What is really up with their shady Accounting Practices ?And More...................

If you are going to hack these big studios at least do something worthwhile to the whole world.

Is this going to be the default answer now any time we speak of crime and punishment? "X perceived bad guy did not get nuked so something?"

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

Of course there was a crime, and there should be punishment. But seriously, 15 years in federal-pound-me-in-the-ass prison for giving a Japanese megacorp a black eye? There are child molestors and drunk drivers who killed someone who don't get sentences that stiff.

A hefty fine, 6 months in the can and a lot of community service teaching network security would be far more appropriate, really. Save the prison space for violent and dangerous offenders, not failed hackers.

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

Wanna make him a scapegoat (punitive damages), OK, fine. Let's do the same across all spectrums of crimes, but we don't do that, do we?

I think the problem here is you are using the word 'crime' where you really mean wrongdoing. A lot of what happened during the financial crisis of 2008 and after was clearly wrong, both ethically and from a good governance standpoint, but that does not mean that much of what happened was actually criminal, as in, we have a law on the books which forbids that behavior and specifies a punishment if found guilty of said behavior. Compare that with what Mr. Rivera here did: rightly or wrongly, we have laws which forbid what he did and specify a punishment for said crimes.

You dont like what happened (or didnt happen) in the aftermath of the financial crisis? Change the law. Expect more from your government and regulators. But what any of 2008 financial crisis has to do with this guy here, I have no idea.

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

Of course there was a crime, and there should be punishment. But seriously, 15 years in federal-pound-me-in-the-ass prison for giving a Japanese megacorp a black eye? There are child molestors and drunk drivers who killed someone who don't get sentences that stiff.

A hefty fine, 6 months in the can and a lot of community service teaching network security would be far more appropriate, really. Save the prison space for violent and dangerous offenders, not failed hackers.

Actually im having a hard time finding any of these people's actual sentences. 15 years is the max, lets see what he really gets.

lulzsec also intentionally attacked law enforcement and released personal information about police officers. im not sure what they expected.

(Delicious) cake?

The cake is delicious and you must eat it.

qasimq wrote:

Well if by delicious cake you mean pound cake then yes. And by Pound I mean "pounding" and by cake I mean "in Jail".Even though I am not a big fan of Sony Corp, their cronies and the way they handled the GeoHotz situation. Attacking them like this only harmed these individuals themselves. My approach/response to Sony's was simpler, I refuse to buy anything from Sony. They can go F*ck themselves.

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

Wanna make him a scapegoat (punitive damages), OK, fine. Let's do the same across all spectrums of crimes, but we don't do that, do we?

I think the problem here is you are using the word 'crime' where you really mean wrongdoing. A lot of what happened during the financial crisis of 2008 and after was clearly wrong, both ethically and from a good governance standpoint, but that does not mean that much of what happened was actually criminal, as in, we have a law on the books which forbids that behavior and specifies a punishment if found guilty of said behavior. Compare that with what Mr. Rivera here did: rightly or wrongly, we have laws which forbid what he did and specify a punishment for said crimes.

You dont like what happened (or didnt happen) in the aftermath of the financial crisis? Change the law. Expect more from your government and regulators. But what any of 2008 financial crisis has to do with this guy here, I have no idea.

EDIT: changed the name to the right person.

I think your splitting hairs. Wrongdoing? Sounds like a Bush sort of statement, "Evildoers". They did break laws and nothing was done about in the case of the financial crisis, at least in most peoples minds. Sadly the current administration wanted to "look forward" instead of backward when it came to dealing with the financial crisis that hit this country and the world so hard.

We should indeed expect more from our government and regulators, but first we have to undo over a decade of right ring determined attempts at gutting regulators, regulations and the funds to support the job they need to do.

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

Wanna make him a scapegoat (punitive damages), OK, fine. Let's do the same across all spectrums of crimes, but we don't do that, do we?

I think the problem here is you are using the word 'crime' where you really mean wrongdoing. A lot of what happened during the financial crisis of 2008 and after was clearly wrong, both ethically and from a good governance standpoint, but that does not mean that much of what happened was actually criminal, as in, we have a law on the books which forbids that behavior and specifies a punishment if found guilty of said behavior. Compare that with what Mr. Rivera here did: rightly or wrongly, we have laws which forbid what he did and specify a punishment for said crimes.

You dont like what happened (or didnt happen) in the aftermath of the financial crisis? Change the law. Expect more from your government and regulators. But what any of 2008 financial crisis has to do with this guy here, I have no idea.

EDIT: changed the name to the right person.

I think your splitting hairs. Wrongdoing? Sounds like a Bush sort of statement, "Evildoers". They did break laws and nothing was done about in the case of the financial crisis, at least in most peoples minds. Sadly the current administration wanted to "look forward" instead of backward when it came to dealing with the financial crisis that hit this country and the world so hard.

We should indeed expect more from our government and regulators, but first we have to undo over a decade of right ring determined attempts at gutting regulators, regulations and the funds to support the job they need to do.

A) Prove itB) Even if you can, the financial crisis has absolutely nothing to do with this particular criminal, and, yes, he is a real criminal that really broke the law. Stop using his crime as an excuse to grandstand about some imagined crime of the past.

A) Prove itB) Even if you can, the financial crisis has absolutely nothing to do with this particular criminal, and, yes, he is a real criminal that really broke the law. Stop using his crime as an excuse to grandstand about some imagined crime of the past.

After you watch "Inside Job" get back to us on (A) and "some imagined crime". Regarding (B), point taken. But there were countless other examples that could have been chosen in its stead. Blame Ars for initially sensationalizing his potential punishment, others for fanning it, and kudos to you to wanting to find the actual sentences for previous perpetrators.

No matter what you cannot deny that some targets (those less powerless) are easy to target, prosecute, criminalize, vilify, demonize, and hang up in effigy. The rest of us are appalled by what other things are allowed a pass - whether a crime, wrongdoing, societal disgrace, faux pas, or whatever you want to call it.

Make the punishment fit the "societal wrong". Power to the powerless. End of story.

I dont even get this logic, because 'Wall Street' didnt get punished then no crime can be punished? Would you be willing to extend this logic to the Aurora shooting asshole? "sure he murdered a dozen people, but we are still reeling from the havoc that wall street caused so, uh, derp derp"

Wanna make him a scapegoat (punitive damages), OK, fine. Let's do the same across all spectrums of crimes, but we don't do that, do we?

I think the problem here is you are using the word 'crime' where you really mean wrongdoing. A lot of what happened during the financial crisis of 2008 and after was clearly wrong, both ethically and from a good governance standpoint, but that does not mean that much of what happened was actually criminal, as in, we have a law on the books which forbids that behavior and specifies a punishment if found guilty of said behavior. Compare that with what Mr. Rivera here did: rightly or wrongly, we have laws which forbid what he did and specify a punishment for said crimes.

You dont like what happened (or didnt happen) in the aftermath of the financial crisis? Change the law. Expect more from your government and regulators. But what any of 2008 financial crisis has to do with this guy here, I have no idea.

EDIT: changed the name to the right person.

I think your splitting hairs. Wrongdoing? Sounds like a Bush sort of statement, "Evildoers". They did break laws and nothing was done about in the case of the financial crisis, at least in most peoples minds. Sadly the current administration wanted to "look forward" instead of backward when it came to dealing with the financial crisis that hit this country and the world so hard.

We should indeed expect more from our government and regulators, but first we have to undo over a decade of right ring determined attempts at gutting regulators, regulations and the funds to support the job they need to do.

A) Prove itB) Even if you can, the financial crisis has absolutely nothing to do with this particular criminal, and, yes, he is a real criminal that really broke the law. Stop using his crime as an excuse to grandstand about some imagined crime of the past.

I'm just pointing out that your BS, but sadly I see a lot more of it. If you choose to walk around with blinders on and refuse to read all the information out there, it isn't up to me to play your gofor and gather it all for you. Imagined crime? Wow. Oh I agree with you btw, that this LulzSec guy is "probably" a criminal but lets wait until he's found guilty through due process of our court system. Can you give even lip service to justice?

I bet you are for a lot of the unethical, unprofessional cowboy shit I keep seeing in the news being done by the FBI, law enforcement and other government agencies. No crime here, move a long citizen. I keep pondering why I served back during the Cold War. Some days when I see the shit some people spew I ponder why I didn't just ex-pat after my service and stay in Europe.

I'm just pointing out that your BS, but sadly I see a lot more of it. If you choose to walk around with blinders on and refuse to read all the information out there, it isn't up to me to play your gofor and gather it all for you. Imagined crime? Wow. Oh I agree with you btw, that this LulzSec guy is "probably" a criminal but lets wait until he's found guilty through due process of our court system. Can you give even lip service to justice?

I bet you are for a lot of the unethical, unprofessional cowboy shit I keep seeing in the news being done by the FBI, law enforcement and other government agencies. No crime here, move a long citizen. I keep pondering why I served back during the Cold War. Some days when I see the shit some people spew I ponder why I didn't just ex-pat after my service and stay in Europe.

Yes imagined crime, thats the words i use when some internet blowhard come around huffing and puffing about a crime without so much as a shred of actual proof. I know it feels real good for you to pound your chest and cat all morally superior, but the rest of the world works on the basis of actual laws, actual facts, not just your say so.

The law is an ass, as the saying goes, and is no guarantee of justice. Money writes the laws, and expensive lawyers--not the truth--are the best predictors of success in court. "Wrongs" are not indeed necessarily against the law, but reasonable people know a gross miscarriage of justice when they see it. Don't begrudge them their anger. Also, I don't want to debate the precise legal nature of Wall Street's 'crimes', but prosecutors have been known to get creative when it suits them.

The law is an ass, as the saying goes, and is no guarantee of justice. Money writes the laws, and expensive lawyers--not the truth--are the best predictors of success in court. "Wrongs" are not indeed necessarily against the law, but reasonable people know a gross miscarriage of justice when they see it. Don't begrudge them their anger. Also, I don't want to debate the precise legal nature of Wall Street's 'crimes', but prosecutors have been known to get creative when it suits them.

Sean Gallagher / Sean is Ars Technica's IT Editor. A former Navy officer, systems administrator, and network systems integrator with 20 years of IT journalism experience, he lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland.